Domestic appliance



arch 14, 1967 P. F. POWDER 3,308,954

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed May 4, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR- Pau) 1:Powder H16 ATTORNEY arch 14, 1967 P. F. POWDER 3,308,954

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed May 4, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

Pau) 1? Powder BY 45m HA5 A 7' TOR/V5 Y Marc}! 1967 P. F. POWDER3,308,954

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed May 4, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 @sii I N VEN TOR.

041) 2 Powder BY (l/5' ATTORNEY March 14, 1967 P. F. POWDER 3,308,954

v DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed May 4, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Marc1 14, 1967P. F. POWDER 3,308,954

DOMESTI C APPLIANCE Filed May 4, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 [Q INVENTOR Pau/5 Powder BY #16 ATTORNEY M r h 14, 1967 P. F. OWDER 3,308,954

DOMESTI C APPLIANCE Filed May 4, 1964 -6 Sheets-Sheet 6 TIME IN Mmurss1o 11 w 16 u 20 z: 24 26 1x I NVENTOR.

Pau) F: Fba/dez figo BY 52mm #18 ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice3,308,954 Patented Mar. 14, 1987 3,308,954 DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Paul F.Powder, Southfield, Micin, assignor to General Motors Corporation,Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed May 4, 1964, Ser. No.364,455 7 Claims. (Cl. 210-138) This invention relates to domesticappliances and more particularly to stabilizing a small capacityportable type cleaning device.

One problem in designing a small capacity cleaning device having arotatable article container therein occurs during a high-spin speedcycle of operation for extracting cleaning fluid. Because of beingscaled down, the machine has a reduced weight and, hence, vibrationsproduced during high speed operation can result in substantialinstability, as, for example, the machine may vibrate, unless tied down,sufficiently to walk about on the supporting surface associatedtherewith.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to substantiallyeliminate the transmissibility of vibrations from a rotating massportion of a small capacity cleaning device to a supporting platformassociated therewith.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to substantiallyeliminate the transmissibility of vibrations from a rotating massportion of a small capacity cleaning device to a supporting platformassociated therewith.

A further object of the present invention is to stabilize an improvedsmall capacity cleaning device including a horizontally disposedrotatable drum by the provision of support means for the drum and itsdrive system including a first vibration damping system between afloating drum support and a fixed machine base and a second dampingsystem interposed directly between the drum and the fixed base.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce vibrations in anautomatic laundry appliance by modifying a timer programmed sequence ofoperation upon the occurrence of eccentric loading of articles thereinwhereby the timer modification prevents advancement of a preprogramrnedcycle of operation by the timer and pulsatingly reduces the power inputto a drive motor for the machine so as to reduce its drum speed to apoint where articles will be redistributed therein to prevent excessivevibrations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedcontrol system for an automatic laundry appliance having a rotatabledrum including a first timer means for producing a desired sequence ofoperation in the machine including a high-spin speed cycle of operationand further including means for sensing a predetermined level ofvibration produced by load eccentricity or the like to deactivate thefirst timer means and energize a second timer means operativelyassociated with pulsating switch means for reducing power input to adrive means for reducing drum speed to compensate for load eccentricitywith the second timer means being operable following a predeterminedperiod of time to reinstate the progressive sequential action of thefirst timer means.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of the cleaning device of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view of the device with its rear coverplate removed;

FIGURE 3 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 33 of FIGURE2;

FIGURE 4 is a view in horizontal the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken along the line 55of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken along the line6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view looking in the direction of arrow 7 inFIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken along the line8-8 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken along the line 99of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 10 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 19-10 ofFIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a program chart for cam switch operation in the controlsequence of the present invention; and

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic view of a circuit for automaticallycontrolling the operation of the machine.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGURE 1 a small capacity cleaningdevice 10 constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention is illustrated as being supported on a table 12 or the like.The device 10, as will be more apparent from the subsequent discussion,is dimensionally somewhat equivalent to the present-day portabletelevision set and is to be suited for use in relatively tight quarters,as, for example, small apartments, trailers or other similar locations.The device 10 includes an outer cabinet 14 having a front access opening16 therein closed by a door 18 which, when open, provides accessinteriorly of the outer cabinet 14 into an outer drum 20 through accessopening 21 therein and thence into a rotatable, perforated inner drum 22having an access opening 24 in the front thereof in axial alignment withthe opening 16 and 21 in cabinet 14 and outer drum 22, respectively. Theinner drum 22 is rotatablysupported on a shaft 26 by suitable bearingmeans in the rear wall 39 of the outer drum 20 where the shaft 26extends rearwardly into a machinery compartment 32 formed by the outercabinet 14. A multiple clutch beltpulley drive system 34 located incompartment 32 is operatively associated with a reversible electricmotor 36 for producing, in conjunction with drive system 34, amultiple-speed rotation of the inner drum 22 for carrying out desiredwashing, spin dry and dry cycles of operation.

The device further includes a fluid circulation system comprising aninlet water valve 38 having a solenoid coil 39 seen in FIGURE 12. Thevalve 38 also has a pair of inlet fittings 40, 42 adapted to beconnected to suitable exteriorly located sources of hot and cold wateror the like and an outlet fitting fluidly communicating with one end ofa flexible tubular conduit 44 that terminates at its opposite end in anozzle 46 supported by a bracket 48 secured to the outer drum 20. Fromnozzle 46, fluid flow passes across a gap into the outer drum 20 on oneside thereof as best illustrated in FIGURE 2, whereby water from theinlet valve 38 is fed interiorly of the drum 2t and thence through theperforated outer surface of interior drum 22. Water level is controlledby a water level switch 47 in FIGURE 12. Following a predeterminedwashing operation, water is drained from the interior of the machinethrough a sump (not shown) communicating with a lower portion 5'0 of theouter drum 22 as seen in FIGURE 6. Drainage from the sump passes througha drain conduit 52 under the control of valve means including a solenoidC011 54 (FIGURE 12) and thence is directed to the inlet 56 of a rotarydrain pump 58 supported by brackets 60 forwardly of the reversible motor36 to be driven by a shaft 62 of the motor so as to force fluid throughan outlet 64 and a discharge conduit 66 to a suitable drain locatedexteriorly of the machine.

In addition to the water circulation system, the machine still furtherincludes an air circulation system 65 includsection taken along ing amotor-driven and circulating air during a predetermined desired dryingcycle of machine operation.

The detailed features of the cabinet construction, drive arrangement andwater and heated air circulation systems are more particularly set forthin the copending application of Robert F. Smith, Serial No. 364,553filed May 4, 1964. Such details are merely representative with it be ingunderstood that other drive arrangements and auxiliary systems might beequally well suited for association with the present invention.

One problem resulting from scaling down a machine to have a limitedcapacity, such as that of the machine illustrated and, discussed above,is the unsuitability that results from having a low resultantgravitational force. The critical phase of operation of the machine iswhen the tumbling drum 22 enters a high-spin speed phase of operationcapable of producing dynamic unbalance forces in the machine that willproduce a noticeable vibration in the outer cabinet thereof and, in somecases, where the unbalanced loading is extreme, to produce substantialwalking or other noticeable movements of the machine on its supportingbase.

In accordance with certain of the concepts of the present invention, animproved arrangement is included in association with the illustratedmachine for producing a damping of machine vibrations that are producedduring periods where articles to be cleaned by the machine aresubstantially uniformly distributed about the inner periphery of therotatable tumbling drum 22. To effect,

such damping of vibrations during this period of operation in theillustrated embodiment of the invention, the outer drum 20 is supportedat the base thereof on a floating platform 68 by means of supportbrackets70, 72 located on either side of the centerline of the drum 20,as best illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4 and 6.-

In addition to supporting the outer drum 20, the floatingplatform 68 hasthe drive system 34 and reversible electric motor 36 fixedly securedthereto in supported relationship thereon by means representativelyshown as including a motor shaft bearing bracket 74, and idler pulleybrackets 76, 78 serving to support portions of the drive system 34 asmore specifically set forth in the copending Smith application. issupported at each cornerthereof on a fixed base 80 of the outer cabinet14 by a shock mounting assembly 82. One of these shock mountingassemblies 82 isshown in FIGURES 4 and 8 with it being understood thatlike structure exists at the other corners of platform 68. Each of theshock mount assemblies 82, more particularly, includes a pair of units84, 86 each including a stud element 87 directed upwardly throughopenings 88, 89 in the fixed base 80 and movable platform 68,respectively. The stud portion 87 carries a washer 90 on its head and isdirected through a resilient cylindrical element 92 of a material suchas rubber or the like having an enlargeddiameter portion 94 between theends thereof. The diameter portion 94 is grooved to receive a plate 99fixedly secured to base 80 around opening 88 therethrough. The upper endof element 92 is thereby arranged to supportingly engage the undersideof platform 68 by nut 93 on a threaded upper end of stud 87 wherebyvibrations produced in the drive assembly 34, rotating drum 22, and thelike, and transmitted to the floating platform 68 are damped to reducethe transmissibility thereof to the outer cabinet 14 through the fixedbase 80 thereof.

The illustrated corner shock mount assemblies 82'are most effectiveagainst lateral and vertical components of vibration Within the movableparts of the illustrated device and any angular rotational components ofvibration are compensated by means of apair of. damper assemblies 95,96. In FIGURE 4, assembly 95 is shown located adjacent the front, wallof the outer cabinet 14 interiorly thereof at an offset location withrespect to the fan 67 and a heater 69 for heating.

The floating framework 68 4- J center line of the outer drum 20 and theassembly 96 is arranged at a similarly offset location on the oppositeside of drum 20 rearwardly of assembly 95. Each of thedamper, assemblies95, 96 is fixedly secured to ,the fixed base by a bracket 97 whichserves to support a pair of annular resilient dampingpads 98, 100 havinga radially inner surface portion thereof surrounding an elongatedfastener element 102 in engagement therewith. The fastener 102 isdirected transversely through the pads 98, 100 so that the ends thereofextend exteriorly thereof where each end thereof holds a pair of spacedarms 164,106 together. Arms104, 106 are reinforced by a stud 108 and anut110'at-an intermediate point thereon and have the terminal endsthereof fixedly connected to a bracket 112 fixedly secured totheouter'periphery of the drum 20 on either side thereof. By virtue ofthe described damper assembly structure, angular components of vibrationinduced in the drum 20 by the drive remain substantially stable upon aplatform, such astable 12, illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The foregoing discussion presupposesthat the clothes.

being cleaned by the machine are substantially evenly distributed aboutthe innerperiphery of the rotating tumbling drum22'. As is'recognized bythose skilled in the art, there, may be a tendency for such clothes tobe located eccentrically of the tub so that, when the drive 34 isconditioned to operate the tumbling drum 22 at its high speed ofoperatiomthere will be a substantial unbalance force acting thereonwhich cannot be effectively clamped by the above-discussed improveddamping system. In such case, in order to prevent an undesirabletransmission of unbalanced forces into the supporting platform for themachine, improved-vibration sensing means have been provided .totemporarily reduce the' speed of rotation of the tumbling drum 22sufficiently to enable the clothes to be evenly redistributed therein.

To appreciate the improvedvibrationlimiting feature of the presentinvention, it is necessary to refer to the circuit for controlling thepreprogrammed cycles of operation of themachine as shown in FIGURE 12.This cir-' cuit is more specifically set forth in the copendingapplication to Clark, Serial No.,364,703 filed May 4, 1964 withunnecessary portions thereof being omitted. For purposes of thisspecification, it is only necessary to point out that the circuitincludes a plurality of timer actuated cams 200a-200l sequentiallyadvanced by a-timer motor 202 that is connectedacross lines L L of a 115volt, 60 cycle A.C. source through a timer control knob switch 204,21door switch 205, conductor 206, a jog hold switch 207, conductor 208,cam switch 200a and conductors 209, 210. Thecircuit further includes ajog timer motor 211 connected across lines L L in a circuit including anormally open balance switch 212..

When the timer motor'202 is energized, it sequentially advances the cams.of the circuit to produce the program of cam switch operationillustrated in FIGURE 11.

When the circuit is conditioned for high speed spin, the tumbling drum22 is rotated by the drive motor 36 and pulley assembly 34counterclockwise at a high-spin speed for extracting liquid from theclothes supported withig the drum through the above-discussed fluidcirculation system including the drain outlet therefrom and, so long asthe clothes are substantially evenly distributed on the inner periphery,the control will proceed without any delay through the spin dry cycle tothe dry cycle which occurs shortly after ten minutes have transpired inthe controlling cycle. In the event that the articles are unevenly oreccentrically disposed within the tumbling drum, the unbalanced forceacting on the drum will be transmitted into the fixed base 80 so as tocause an adjustable stop element 214 threadably secured in the base toengage a movable arm portion 215 of the balance switch 212 so as toclose the circuit through the jog motor 211. Then a cam 216 on the shaftof motor 211 moves the plunger of a jog hold switch 207 so that it isconditioned to open the timer motor circuit and close the jog motorcircuit for a predetermined correction cycle. Hence, the programmedcycle of operation illustrated in FIGURE 11 is a temporarily terminatedfor a predetermined period of time. The jog motor 211, once energized,advances a cam wheel 217 thereon to move the notched cams on the outerperiphery 218 thereof with respect to a reciprocable plunger arm 220 ofa jog switch 222 in the drive motor circuit.

The drive motor 36 is thereby selectively de-energized so as to slow thespeed of rotation of the drum sufficiently to produce a redistributionof clothes therein suflicient to overcome the unbalanced or eccentricloading and, consequently, reduce unbalanced forces acting on thesystem. Following a predetermined period of time, the jog timer motorcam 216 will reposition the plunger of jog hold switch 207 so as tointerrupt the circuit through line 219 and re-energize the timer motorthrough conductors 206, 208. Assuming that the unbalanced or eccentricloading condition has been corrected, the unbalanced switch will also beopened so that the jog motor will not be able to condition the jog holdswitch to open the timer motor circuit and, consequently, the timermotor will take up the programmed sequence of control illustrated inFIGURE 11 where it was previously terminated.

By virtue of the above-described arrangement, both normal and abnormalvibrational forces in the improved compact washer-dryer combination areisolated from the supporting platform for the machine whereby themachine progresses through all phases of the cycle of operation withoutany substantial noise or vibration transmission that might beundesirably noticeable to the user of the machine.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a domestic appliance having a high-speed spin cycle of operationduring which a rotatable receptacle spins at a relatively high speed,the combination of, an electric motor for effecting the high-speed spinof the receptacle, circuit means including first switch means forelectrically connecting said motor to a source of power, first timermeans in said circuit means for sequentially conditioning said firstswitch means to efiect a predetermined sequence of operating cycles,second switch means responsive to vibrations in the appliance, secondtimer means operative upon a predetermined appliance vibration sensed bysaid second switch means for conditioning said circuit means tode-energize said first timer means to interrupt said sequence ofoperating cycles, third switch means responsive to operation of saidsecond timer means for pulsatingly energizing said electric motor whilesaid first timer means is de-energized to effect a step-wisedeceleration of the rotatable receptacle to a predetermined slower speedto redistribute articles therein sufficiently to reduce the appliancevibration sensed by said second switch means.

2. In the combination of claim 1, said second timer means includingmeans operative following a predetermined correction period tore-energize said first timer means to re-initiate said predeterminedsequence of operating cycles.

3. In a domestic appliance having a high-speed spin cycle of operationduring which a rotatable receptacle spins at a relatively high speed,the combination of, an electric motor for effecting the high-speed spinof the receptacle, circuit means for electrically connecting said motorto a source of power, first timer means including a first timer motorfor sequentially programming said circuit means to produce plural cyclesof appliance operation, a floating frame for supporting the rotatablereceptacle, a fixed frame, means for mounting said floating frame onsaid fixed frame for flexible movement relative thereto, a limit switch,coacting means on said fixed and floating frames for conditioning saidlimit switch upon a predetermined relative movement between said frames,second timer means including a second timer motor, said second timermotor responding to conditioning of said limit switch for programmingsaid circuit means to deenergize said first timer motor, and switchmeans responsive to said second timer means for pulsatingly energizingsaid electric motor while said first timer motor is deenergized toeffect a step-wise deceleration of the rotatable receptacle to apredetermined slower speed to redistribute articles therein suflicientlyto reduce excessive movement between said fixed and floating frames.

4. In a domestic appliance having a high-speed spin cycle of operationduring which a rotatable receptacle spins at a relatively high speed,the combination of, an electric motor for effecting the high-speed spinof the receptacle, circuit means including first switch means forelectrically connecting said motor to a source of power, first timermeans in said circuit means for sequentially conditioning said firstswitch means to effect a predetermined sequence of operating cycles, afloating frame for supporting the rotatable receptacle, a fixed frame,means for mounting said floating frame on said fixed frame for flexiblemovement relative thereto, a limit switch secured for movement with saidfloating frame, stop means on said fixed frame for engaging said limitswitch upon a predetermined relative movement between said floatingframe and said fixed frame to actuate said limit switch, second timermeans including a timer motor, said timer motor responding to actuationof said limit switch for conditioning said circuit means to de-energizesaid first timer means to interrupt said sequence of operating cycles,said second timer means including second switch means for pulsatinglyenergizing said electric motor while said first timer means isde-energized to effect a step-wise deceleration of the rotatablereceptacle to a predetermined slower speed to redistribute articlestherein sufficiently to reduce the excessive movement between said fixedand floating frames.

5. In a small capacity cleaning device the combination of, a rotatabledrum having a driven shaft, drum support means including bearing meansfor supporting said driven shaft during rotation thereof, a reversibleelectric motor having a drive shaft, drive means for operativelyconnecting said drive shaft to said driven shaft, a floating platform,means for fixedly connecting said drum support means, said electricmotor and said drive means to said floating platform, a fixed platform,resilient shock absorbing means connected between said floating platformand said fixed platform for reducing the transmissibility of lateral andvertical modes of vibration from said floating platform to said fixedplatform, and vibration damping means connected between said drumsupport means and said fixed platform for reducing the transmissibilityof angular modes of vibration to said fixed platform, said vibrationdamping means including a torsional damping pad on either side of theaxis of rotation of said drum for damping angular modes of vibrationinduced thereby upon rotation thereof in either direction.

6. In a limited capacity cleaning device the combination of, ahorizontally disposed rotatable drum including a driven shaft thereon, areversible electric motor having for fixedly supporting said rotatabledrum, motor and drive means to said floating platform, a fixed platform,

resilient shock absorber means at each corner of said',

floating platform resiliently supporting said floating platform onsaidfixed platform to reducetthe transmission of vertical and lateralvibrations from said floating platform to said fixed platform, firstvibration damping means disposed on one side of the center line of saiddrum including a portion thereon fixedly secured-to said drum supportmeans and another portion fixedly connected to said fixed platform, saidfirst vibration damping means including a resilient torsional dampingpad for reducing the transmissibility of angular vibration modes inducedby a first rotation of said drum in said support means therefor, andsecond vibration damping means located on the opposite side of said drumfrom said first damping means including first and second portionsthereof fixedly connected to said drum support means and said fixedplatform respectively, said second vibration damping means including atorsional damping pad for reducing transmissibility of angular vibrationinduced by said drum upon reverse rotation thereof.

7. In a limited capacity cleaning device the combination of, ahorizontally disposed rotatable drum including a driven shaft thereon, areversible electric motor having a drive shaft, drive means foroperatively connecting said drive shaft to the driven shaft, a floatingplatform, means for fixedly supporting said rotatable drum, motor anddrive means to said floating platform, a fixed platform, resilient shockabsorber means at each corner of said floating platformresilientlysupporting said floating platform on said fixed platform toreduce the transmission of vertical and lateral vibrations from saidfloating platform "to ,said fixed platform, first vibration dampingmeans disposed on one side of the center lineof said drum including aportion thereon fixedly secured to said drum support means and anotherportion fixedly connected to said fixed platform, said first vibrationdamping means including a resilient torsional damping pad for reducingthe transmissibility of angular vibration modes induced by a firstrotation of said drum in said support means therefor, and secondvibration damping means located on the opposite side of said drum fromsaid first damping-means including first and second portions thereoffixedly connected to'said drum support means and said fixed platformrespectively, said second vibration damping means including a torsionaldamping pad for reducing transmissibility of angularvibrationinduced bysaiddrum upon reverse rotation thereof, circuit means for electricallyconnecting saidmotor to a source of power, first timer means in saidcircuit means for sequentially conditioning said circuitmeans to effecta predetermined sequence of operating cycles, a limit switch secured formovement with said floatingplatform, stop means on said fixed platformfor actuating said limit switch upon a predetermined relative movementbetween said floating and fixed platforms, second timer means includinga timer motor, said timer motor responding to actuation of said limitswitch for conditioning said circuit means to de-energize saidfirsttimer means to interruptthe sequence 7 of operating cycles, saidsecond timer means including second switch meansfor pulsatinglyenergizing said electric motor while said first timer means istie-energized to effect a stepwise deceleration of the rotatable drum toa predetermined slower speed to reduce excessive relative movementbetween said fixed and floating platforms.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,920,470 1/1960Bochan 210-1-138 X 2,990,706 7/1961 Bochan 68-24 X 3,084,799 4/1963Decatur 2l0144 3,098,372 7/1963 Bochan 210-444 X REUBEN FRIEDMAN,Primary Examiner.

I. DE CESARE, Assistant Examiner

1. IN A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE HAVING A HIGH-SPEED SPIN CYCLE OF OPERATIONDURING WHICH A ROTATABLE RECEPTACLE SPINS AT A RELATIVELY HIGH SPEED,THE COMBINATION OF, AN ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR EFFECTING THE HIGH-SPEED SPINOF THE RECEPTACLE, CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING FIRST SWITCH MEANS FORELECTRICALLY CONNECTING SAID MOTOR TO A SOURCE OF POWER, FIRST TIMERMEANS IN SAID CIRCUIT MEANS FOR SEQUENTIALLY CONDITIONING SAID FIRSTSWITCH MEANS TO EFFECT A PREDETERMINED SEQUENCE OF OPERATING CYCLES,SECOND SWITCH MEANS RESPONSIVE TO VIBRATIONS IN THE APPLIANCE, SECONDTIMER MEANS OPERATIVE UPON A PREDETERMINED APPLIANCE VIBRATION SENSED BYSAID SECOND SWITCH MEANS FOR CONDITIONING SAID CIRCUIT MEANS TODE-ENERGIZED SAID FIRST TIMER MEANS TO INTERRUPT SAID SEQUENCE OFOPERATING CYCLES, THIRD SWITCH MEANS RESPONSIVE TO OPERATION OF SAIDSECOND TIMER MEANS FOR PULSATINGLY ENERGIZING SAID ELECTRIC MOTOR WHILESAID FIRST TIMER MEANS IS DE-ENERGIZED TO EFFECT A